Business

Households and businesses are all facing increased costs on a number of items and services today. Those in need of assistance can contact the organisations they may owe money to – they might help by reducing payments or giving people more time to pay. Organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureau also offer useful advice to

House prices fell by 3.1% year-on-year in March, marking the biggest annual decline since July 2009, Nationwide Building Society said. The figures also showed a monthly price fall of 0.8% – the seventh consecutive fall – which leaves prices 4.6% below their August peak. Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist, said: “The housing market reached a

The government has frozen plans to accelerate the rise in the state pension age. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride confirmed the move following newspaper reports that suggested the government was erring over the plans. The age at which the state pension is payable currently stands at 66, and by the end of 2028, it

The UK’s private sector has shrunk for the eighth consecutive quarter. That is according to data from the Confederation for British Industry, which said its latest snapshot of the sector showed “signs of green shoots” – with projections that UK industry will return to growth in the next quarter. The organisation’s lead economist, Alpesh Paleja,

The union representing Royal Mail’s frontline staff is on the verge on announcing new strike dates, Sky News understands, should a final push to end their long-running dispute fail. A Communication Workers Union (CWU) source said talks at the conciliation service Acas were scheduled for Thursday but fresh walkouts could be called the following day

Britain’s banking sector is resilient to rising interest rates, the Bank of England has said. The central bank’s financial policy committee said that banks had the capacity to support lending to businesses and households even if interest rates climb higher than expected. Central bankers have been eager to quash any fears that the banking sector

The Bank of England governor has told MPs the regulator is currently in a period of “very heightened tension and alertness”. However, speaking to the Treasury Committee on Tuesday, Andrew Bailey said the country is not in a period comparable to the financial crash of 2018 – but that vigilance is needed. He said: “I

UK grocery inflation has hit a new record high – with customers now paying hundreds more a year – but there are warnings the worst is yet to come. As inflation for food hits 17.5%, Kantar Worldpanel reported households are now facing a potential £837 hike in the annual cost of their regular basket –

Next is in advanced talks to buy Cath Kidston in its latest swoop on a prominent but troubled retail brand. Sky News has learnt that the FTSE-100 chain, which has a market value of close to £8.7bn, could wrap up a deal to acquire the modern vintage label as soon as Tuesday. Banking sources said

More than 94,000 prepayment meters were installed in homes in Britain throughout 2022, government figures show. The meters were installed by energy providers such as British Gas, Scottish Power and OVO Energy using court-sought warrants and without customer consent. Those three providers were behind 70% of installations, the government said, and fitted 66,187 devices under

A loyalty app which counts Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group among its shareholders has secured a £9m funding lifeline. Sky News understands that existing investors in Loyalty Angels, which trades as Bink, have agreed to provide £7.5m in new capital. They have also indicated that they will agree to underwrite a further £1.5m of investment,

Manchester United received a fresh Qatari bid overnight – as the battle to purchase the Premier League giants intensifies. Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani made the offer after asking for a deadline extension on Wednesday. He joins Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS, who made his own second formal bid for the club, and comes after

The renowned activist investor Elliott Management is plotting a takeover of large chunks of Cineworld, the stricken London-listed cinema operator. Sky News has learnt that Elliott is interested in acquiring Cineworld’s operations in eastern Europe and Israel. While Elliott is also understood to have explored a bid for the whole of the ailing group, its

The company behind a group of well-known outdoor sports clothing brands is racing to find a buyer months after the collapse of a deal to reverse it into a London-listed cash shell. Sky News has learnt that FRP Advisory, the professional services firm, has been drafted in to find a buyer for Internet Fusion Group

It is another “risk off” day in the jargon for stock markets in Europe. Banking stocks, in particular, are falling out of bed. Shares of Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, Germany’s two largest lenders, have fallen at their worst by 13% and 8% respectively while BNP Paribas and Societe Generale, the first and third-largest banks in

Millions of mobile phone and internet users are facing a price increase of 17.3% on their bills in just a week’s time. Every April, many broadband and mobile firms raise their prices in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus an additional 3-3.9%. As these price rises are often applied mid-contract, people either have

The Bank of England has revealed it no longer believes the UK will face a technical recession this year, as it raised the interest rate by a further quarter percentage point. The unexpected change to its forecast was contained in the minutes alongside its decision to raise borrowing costs for an eleventh successive time to

The government is cutting benefit payments to some of Britain’s poorest families or threatening them with debt collectors in a raid that is “plunging people into poverty”.  More than a million people have had their universal credit payments cut over the past year because they were overpaid tax credits in the past by HMRC. Some

Striking Amazon workers have vowed to step up industrial action following an “insulting” new pay rise. It comes after Amazon announced on Wednesday that it will increase the minimum starting salary of its UK workforce by at least 50p to between £11 and £12 per hour from April. The company said the exact amount will

Delivery giant Just Eat has announced it is to axe 1,700 jobs as it ceases to employ its delivery riders and drivers. The service said it will use entirely gig economy workers to deliver food in the UK, as opposed to the hybrid system of employees and self-employed workers. Delivery staff have been given six